Prolong-tracked elliptical exercise machine

ABSTRACT

A prolong-tracked elliptical exercise machine has a base, two poles, two pedal assemblies and a wheel assembly. The pedal assemblies are mounted oppositely beside the base and each pedal assembly has a linking bar, a rail and a pedal. The linking bar is pivotally mounted between the corresponding pole and the wheel assembly. The rail is mounted securely on the linking bar. The pedal is mounted slidably on the rail and is synchronized to and moved along the rail by a driving assembly driven by movement of the wheel assembly. Accordingly, since pedals move relative to the rail, a distance of pedal movement is increased to provide greater exercise advantages at low cost.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a low impact fitness facility, and more particularly to a prolong-tracked elliptical exercise machine that raises a distance of pedal movement to provide greater exercise advantages.

2. Description of Related Art

Elliptical exercise machines are very popular low impact fitness facilities, which allow a person to perform a full body exercise at home whilst avoiding high impact activities, so are especially useful for overweight, elderly, pregnant, unfit or unmotivated people. With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, an elliptical exercise machine comprises a base (40), two poles (41), two linking bars (43), two pedals (44) and a wheel assembly (42).

The base (40) has a front end, a rear end and two sides. The poles (41) are mounted oppositely on the two sides of the base (40) near the front end and are mounted pivotally and controllably on the base (40). The linking bars (43) and the pedals (44) are respectively mounted oppositely on the sides of the base (40, are connected respectively to the poles (41) and perform a cyclic movement.

The wheel assembly (42) is mounted in the rear end of the base (40) and provides resistance to the pedals (44), thereby forcing a person moves the poles (41) and pedals (44) to work against the resistance to perform exercise.

However, the pedals (44) of a conventional elliptical exercise machine are fixed to the linking bars (43). Therefore, a length of the poles (41) and linking bars (43) limit a possible length of pedal (44) movement. Therefore, tall people with a long stride may find the elliptical exercise machine inadequate. Moreover, advantages of the elliptical exercise machine are proportional to stride length so prolonging pedal movement raises user-experience and exercise benefits.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a prolong-tracked elliptical exercise machine to obviate or mitigate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a prolong-tracked elliptical exercise machine that raises a distance of pedal movement within present structures of elliptical exercise machines, thereby to providing greater exercise advantages at low cost since previous machine tools can be used.

To achieve the objective, the prolong-tracked elliptical exercise machine in accordance with the present invention comprises a base, two poles, two pedal assemblies and a wheel assembly.

The pedal assemblies are mounted oppositely beside the base and each pedal assembly has a linking bar, a rail and a pedal. The linking bar is pivotally mounted between the corresponding pole and the wheel assembly. The rail is mounted securely on the linking bar. The pedal is mounted slidably on the rail and is synchronized to and moved along the rail by a driving assembly driven by movement of the wheel assembly.

Accordingly, the pedal of each pedal assembly is able to move forward or backward relative to the rail. So, when a person steps on the pedals and forces the pedals to move along elliptical tracks, the distance of pedal movement is increased to provide greater exercise advantages.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prolong-tracked elliptical exercise machine in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, exploded perspective view of the prolong-tracked elliptical exercise machine in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, front view in partial section of the prolong-tracked elliptical exercise machine in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the prolong-tracked elliptical exercise machine in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 5A-C are operational side views of the prolong-tracked elliptical exercise machine in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a conventional elliptical exercise machine in accordance with prior art; and

FIG. 7 is an operational side view of the conventional elliptical exercise machine in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIG. 1, a prolong-tracked elliptical exercise machine in accordance with the present invention comprises a base (30), two poles (31), a wheel assembly (32), two pedal assemblies (10) and two driving assemblies (20).

The base (30) has a front end, a rear end and two sides.

The poles (31) are pivotally mounted oppositely on two sides of the base (30) near the front end, each pole (31) has a lower end and pivots relative to the base (30).

The wheel assembly (32) is mounted rotatably in the rear end of the base (30), provides resistance and has an edge and two sides. The resistance may be provided by utilizing a belt, electromagnetic or magnetic resistance, or other techniques well known in the art.

With further reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the pedal assemblies (10) are mounted oppositely on the sides of the base (30), are connected respectively to the poles (31) and the sides of the wheel assembly (32) and perform a cyclic movement. Each pedal assembly (10) comprises a linking bar (11), a rail (15), a sliding member (16) and a pedal (17).

The linking bar (11) is connected to the lower end of the corresponding pole (31) and the edge of the wheel assembly (32), has a front end being connected pivotally to the lower end of the corresponding pole (31), a rear end, a mounting bracket (12), a rear sleeve (13), a through hole (111) and a front sleeve (14). The mounting bracket (12) is formed on the front end of the linking bar (11) and has a pivoting hole (121) formed through the mounting bracket (12). Each mounting bracket (12) is mounting pivotally on the lower end of one of the corresponding pole (31). The rear sleeve (13) is formed transversely in the rear end of the linking bar (11). The through hole (111) is formed transversely through the linking bar (11) near the rear end. The front sleeve (14) is securely mounted transversely in the rear end of the linking bar (11), may be through the through hole (111) of the linking bar (11).

The rail (15) is mounted securely on the linking bar (11) near the front end of the linking bar (11) and comprises a top panel (151), two clamping panels (152) and two tracks (154). The top panel (151) is substantially U-shaped in cross section, has a bottom surface and two side edges. The clamping panels (152) are longitudinally formed parallelly on the bottom surface of the top panel (151), correspond to and clamp the linking bar (11), to secure the rail (15) onto the linking bar (11). The tracks (154) are formed respectively on and protrude transversely from the side edges of the top panel (151) and extend toward the clamping panels (152).

The sliding member (16) is mounted slidably on the rail (15) and has a main panel (161), two wheel mounts (162) and multiple wheels (165). The main panel (161) is shorter than the rail (15) and has two side edges, a top surface and multiple pinholes. The wheel mounts (162) are substantially U-shaped, and are formed longitudinally along the side edges of the main panel (161) and comprise a connected side (162) and an open side (163). The connected side (162) is formed on and protrudes from the main panel (161). The open side (163) is parallel and opposite to the connected side and has multiple threaded holes (164) defined separately in the open side (163). The wheels (165) are mounted rotatably on the open sides (163) of the wheel mounts (162), may be in the threaded holes (164) using multiple bolts, and are further mounted slidably on the track (154) of the rail (15) to support the sliding member (16) and allow the sliding member (16) to slide along the rail (15).

The pedal (17) has a bottom surface and multiple pins attached to the bottom surface, inserted in the pinholes of the sliding member (16) and is mounted securely on the top surface of the sliding member (16). The pedal (17) corresponds to and is larger than people's feet thereby allowing various people of different size to stand on the pedal (17) comfortably.

The driving assemblies (20) are respectively connected to the pedal assemblies (10) and connected to both sides of the wheel assembly (32) at the edge of the wheel assembly (32), and separately drive the sliding members (16) along the rail (15). Each driving assembly (20) comprises a driving gear (22), a transmission gear (24), a linking element (25), a rear bearing assembly (26), a front bearing assembly (28) and an actuating element (27).

The driving gear (22) has a securing shaft (212) and a mounting shaft (211). The securing shaft (212) protrudes concentrically from the driving gear (22) and is mounted securely in the wheel assembly (32), wherein the securing shafts (212) of each driving assembly (20) are diametrically mounted securely near the edge of the wheel assembly (32). The mounting shaft (211) is formed on and protrudes concentrically from the driving gear (22) oppositely from the securing shaft (212) and is mounted rotatably in the rear sleeve (13) of the linking bar (11). The transmission gear (24) engages the driving gear (22) and has a driving shaft (23). The driving shaft (23) is formed concentrically on and protrudes from the transmission gear (24) and is mounted rotatably through the front sleeve (14) of the linking bar (11) and has a distal end.

In a first embodiment, the driving gears (22) and transmission gears (24) have same diameters and numbers of teeth. In a second embodiment, the driving gears (22) and transmission gears (24) have different diameters and numbers of teeth.

The linking element (25) has a drive end and a pedal end. The drive end is mounted securely on the distal end of the driving shaft (23) of the transmission gear (24).

The rear bearing assembly (26) is mounted in the pedal end of the linking element (25).

The front bearing assembly (28) is mounted in the sliding member (16).

The actuating element (27) may be connected between and mounted pivotally on the front and rear bearings assemblies (26, 28), and is connected to the pedal end of the linking element (25) and the sliding member (16).

With further reference to FIGS. 4 to 5C, when a person steps on the pedals (17) in turn, the wheel assembly (32) is driven to rotate. Rotation of the wheel assembly (32) causes the driving gears (22) to rotate relative to the transmission gears (24) and driving the transmission gears (24) of the driving assemblies (20) to rotate. Therefore the linking elements (25) rotate. Rotation of the linking elements (25), forces rotation of the actuating elements (27) that translate rotation alternatively into longitudinal push or pull forces acting on the sliding member (16) and make the sliding member (16) move forward or backward relative to the rail (15).

Accordingly, moving distance of each pedal (17) is prolonged. Therefore, the prolong-tracked elliptical exercise machine in accordance with present invention provides greater exercise advantages. Moreover, the present invention may be fitted to previous designs without requiring large redesign and associated retooling to limit costs

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in detail especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A prolong-tracked elliptical exercise machine comprising a base having a front end, a rear end and two sides; two poles being pivotally mounted oppositely on the two sides of the base near the front end, each pole having a lower end; a wheel assembly being mounted rotatably in the rear end of the base and providing resistance and having an edge and two sides; two pedal assemblies being mounted oppositely on the sides of the base, being connected respectively to the poles and the sides of the wheel assembly, and each pedal assembly comprising a linking bar being connected to the lower end of a corresponding pole and the edge of the wheel assembly and having a front end being connected pivotally to the lower end of the corresponding pole; a rear end; a rear sleeve being formed transversely in the rear end of the linking bar; and a front sleeve being securely mounted transversely in the linking bar near the rear end of the linking bar; a rail being mounted securely on the linking bar near the front end of the linking bar; a sliding member being covering and mounted slidably on the rail; and a pedal being mounted securely on the sliding member; and two driving assemblies being respectively connected to the pedal assemblies and connected to both sides of the wheel assembly at the edge of the wheel assembly, and each driving assembly comprising a driving gear having a securing shaft protruding concentrically from the driving gear; wherein the securing shafts of the driving assemblies are diametrically mounted securely in the edge of the wheel assembly; and a mounting shaft concentrically protruding from the driving gear opposite to the securing shaft and being mounted rotatably in the rear sleeve of the linking bar; a transmission gear engaging the driving gear and having a driving shaft being formed concentrically on and protruding from the transmission gear and being mounted rotatably through the front sleeve of the linking bar and having a distal end; a linking element having a drive end being mounted securely on the distal end of the driving shaft of the transmission gear; and a pedal end; an actuating element being connected to the pedal end of the linking element and the sliding member.
 2. The prolong-tracked elliptical exercise machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rail further comprises a top panel being substantially U-shaped in cross section and having a bottom surface and two side edges; two clamping panels being longitudinally formed parallelly on the bottom surface of the top panel to clamp the linking bar, corresponding to and securing the rail on the linking bar; and two tracks being formed respectively on and protruding transversely from the side edges of the top panel and extending toward the clamping panels; the sliding member further comprises a main panel being shorter than the rail and having two side edges, a top surface and multiple pinholes; two wheel mounts being substantially U-shaped and formed longitudinally along the side edges of the main panel and comprising a connected side being formed on and protruding form the main panel; and an open side being parallel and opposite to the connected side; and multiple wheels being mounted rotatably on the open sides of the wheel mounts, and being mounted slidably on the track of the rail.
 3. The prolong-tracked elliptical exercise machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving assembly further comprises a rear bearing assembly being mounted in the pedal end of the linking element; and a front bearing assembly being mounted in the sliding member; and the actuating element is further connected between and mounted pivotally on the front and rear bearing assemblies.
 4. The prolong-tracked elliptical exercise machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving gears and transmission gears have same diameters and numbers of teeth. 